Measles cases in the European region more than doubled in 2024, reaching the highest level in over 25 years, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, Reuters reported. The surge is attributed to declining vaccination rates following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The WHO reported 127,350 measles cases last year across 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia, with children under five accounting for over 40% of infections. Romania and Kazakhstan recorded the highest case numbers, with 30,692 and 28,147 cases, respectively.
Officials warn that vaccination rates in several countries remain below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Romania, fewer than 80% of eligible children received their first measles vaccine dose in 2023.
UNICEF cited misinformation as a key factor fueling vaccine hesitancy, alongside healthcare disruptions during the pandemic. WHO regional director Hans Kluge called the resurgence of measles a “wake-up call,” urging action to restore immunization levels.
